Every B.C. local knows Ocean Pearl if they害羞草研究所檝e listened to a radio station, but Kelowna residents are getting a fresh twist on the song.

Rock group 54.40 is providing its Central Okanagan audience with nostalgic songs stripped down to the basics as part of its A History Unplugged Tour, at the Kelowna Community Theatre March 31.

Bassist Brad Merritt has been part of the band since its inception in East Vancouver nearly 40 years ago.

The rockers will be playing a different tune in Kelowna compared to his last performance at the Canadian Culinary Championships in February, taking songs from the band害羞草研究所檚 greatest hits record La Difference: A History Unplugged.

The members decided to put new twists on old songs with violin, banjo, mandolin and other instruments for an intimate sound.

害羞草研究所淭his one here害羞草研究所檚 going to be a very different show. It害羞草研究所檚 much smaller, more intimate, stripped down,害羞草研究所� said Merritt. 害羞草研究所淲hat motivates us is how do we make it more challenging, how do we make it interesting for ourselves.害羞草研究所�

Founders Merritt and singer Neil Osborne have come a long way since their first performance Dec. 31, 1980. Driven by the sound of 1970s punk music, Merritt started with humble beginnings.

害羞草研究所淲hen you first start you害羞草研究所檙e just excited to get together to do it,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淭here was an intent that was there (in punk music), an urgency and I was of that age that I could feel like I was a part of that. You rent the bass guitar and say 害羞草研究所榣et害羞草研究所檚 start a band害羞草研究所� and then you buy one and I don害羞草研究所檛 know what I害羞草研究所檓 doing and Neil doesn害羞草研究所檛 know what he害羞草研究所檚 doing.害羞草研究所�

Over time, the group became craftier at creating songs. Merritt found confidence with his bass line and where he fit into songs.

Last year, 54.40 was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and its latest album, Keep On Walking, was released in January.

Merritt and Osborne害羞草研究所檚 relationship has also evolved over time. The long-time friends experienced a time of conflict at one point, Merritt called it 害羞草研究所渓ittle existential moments,害羞草研究所� questioning the band害羞草研究所檚 existence and whether it will go on.

害羞草研究所淣ow we害羞草研究所檙e joined at the hip, it害羞草研究所檚 something that害羞草研究所檚 been successful enough to keep on going,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 love him, you害羞草研究所檒l have to ask him if he feels the same way about me and he害羞草研究所檒l probably say something funny害羞草研究所� we害羞草研究所檙e like family.害羞草研究所�

The fans have also been changing and growing with the musicians throughout their careers.

害羞草研究所淲hen you first start, the audience is essentially your age, they害羞草研究所檙e all 20,害羞草研究所� said Merritt.

After signing a contract with Warner Brothers, and when 54.40害羞草研究所檚 songs began playing on the radio, younger college fans started arriving at shows.

害羞草研究所淚 found as time went on the sweet spot is 10 years younger, and it still is, but the thing is it害羞草研究所檚 flattening out,害羞草研究所� said Merritt. 害羞草研究所淲e see the audience getting steadily younger, once again there are people who can害羞草研究所檛 get their head around pop music, or hip-hop and they害羞草研究所檙e looking for something alternative or independent. (There害羞草研究所檚 also) a generation where their parents grew up on this and now they害羞草研究所檙e old enough to come and see us.害羞草研究所�

Joined by guitarist Dave Genn and drummer Matt Johnson, 54.40 will perform at the Kelowna Community Theatre, March 31.

Tickets are available online at .

To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.

carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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